NIGHTCLUBS and bars in Southport should be shut by 3am at the latest, believes the town centre’s police inspector.

NIGHTCLUBS and bars in Southport should be shut by 3am at the latest, believes the town centre’s police inspector.

And in a growing revolt against nightspots staying open into the dawn hours, on Tuesday evening members of the resort’s Hoteliers’ Association laid down their wish to see a 2am watershed for licensed venues.

The unanimous agreement by the hoteliers present at the meeting follows concerns about guests being kept awake by revellers leaving clubs in the early hours.

In his response to a question at last week’s Southport Area Committee meeting, Inspector Jim McLoughlin, town centre neighbourhood inspector, said: “I would prefer all premises shut by 3am, which would save me a lot of angst.”

Some venues in the town are allowed to remain open until 4am or some, such as Zebra Square, even 6am, under a liberalised regime following the 2003 Licensing Act which made 24-hour-drinking possible for the first time.

Springbok Trekkers was the first bar in Southport to be granted a 24-hour licence.

Speaking to the Visiter this week, Insp McLoughlin explained that the 3am call was his personal opinion and said: “The less time the better for me – it’s common sense really.”

He added that he is looking for “tactical improvements” in how Operation Nightsafe – the operation targeted at keeping Southport’s weekend nightlife in order – is conducted.

Adam Urbanowski, Southport Hoteliers’ Association president, said there had been complaints “from hotels in a variety of locations, large and small”.

He said: “The feeling is that two o’clock is quite late enough and the late licence serves no purpose.

“It’s a very small minority who want the late licences,” continued Mr Urbanowski, who owns the Aaron Hotel in Bath Street with his wife, Lesley.

Mr Urbanowski added that it is the view of his members that staggered closing times are not proving effective, as clubbers still congregate around takeaways and to wait for taxis.

Cllr Les Byrom, member for Dukes Ward, which covers the town centre, raised the problem with Insp McLoughlin at the Area Committee meeting.

He said it had been the established position of himself and ward colleagues David Pearson and Sir Ron Watson to seek a final closing time of 1am, but added: “We accept we have lost this argument and the world has moved on.”

Cllr Byrom continued: “We would be happy to work with the police and licensing on trying to build reasonable compromises between the legitimate pubs and clubs trade, which employs a lot of people and is a significant part of the town, and the needs of hotels and traders in the town centre and residents.”

Cllr Byrom said he welcomed prime minister Gordon Brown’s decision to review the 24-hour-drinking laws, adding: “If we had to compromise on 3am we would look at that.”